Turning Points

Research on drug use trajectories from a developmental life course perspective is currently limited and studies on turning points in drug use pathways, specifically, are scarcer. We know that individuals are able to identify and describe events and experiences that represent turning points in their drug use. These turning points are not temporary fluctuations in behavior, but are long-lasting. As indicated earlier, the concept of turning points is intuitive, but has been difficult to operationalize; yet the concept is useful as a marker for long-term behavioral changes.

The literature suggests that substance abuse researchers must not only identify possible turning point events and experiences, but more importantly, the developmental processes and underlying mechanisms involved in shaping the redirection [ 2 , 16 , 19 , 22 , 37 , 60 , 62 ] in drug use trajectories. Based on the brief literature review of turning points using a life course perspective, we propose a conceptual framework, illustrated in Fig.

The figure includes key domains and concepts for exploring drug use trajectories and turning points. The framework 1 situates individual drug use trajectories within the context of the larger environment and historical times, 2 takes into consideration that personal characteristics e. For example, whereas drug use persists over the lifespan for some, for others it may decelerate gradually or dramatically, and then may cease entirely, or it may exhibit a recurring pattern of repeated acceleration and deceleration with periods of abstinence. For some drug offenders, a certain event or experience e.

Understanding why this is so is important. Specifically, there is a need to better understand the underlying factors indicated by the arrows in regular font , mechanisms and processes involved in turning points. Although changes in drug use trajectories and their interplay with pathways in other domains e. Qualitative methods in particular, but also qualitative and quantitative methods used in an integrated manner, are needed as research on turning points in drug use trajectories is still at the exploratory stage, and we need to first understand, for example: The concept of turning points in the life course as applied in the social sciences and more recently in the area of developmental criminal careers has increased our understanding of events and processes that may trigger a redirection of a life pathway over time e.

The developmental life course perspective alerts investigators to the importance of considering the multifaceted and ever-changing influences that shape interdependent drug use and other trajectories over the life span. Longitudinal research and sophisticated statistical methods developed to analyze such data complements the widely held view of drug addiction as a chronic and relapsing condition that may persist over the adult life span.

Turning points in a life course perspective is an important evolving area of investigation in the substance abuse field. The influence of related life course concepts, including timing and sequencing of life events, individual characteristics, human agency, and social and historical context on drug use trajectories and turning points offers a potentially fruitful area of investigation that may increase our understanding of why and how drug users stop using over the long-term.

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. Author manuscript; available in PMC Dec Cheryl Teruya , Ph. Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer. The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Curr Drug Abuse Rev. See other articles in PMC that cite the published article. Abstract Turning point, a key concept in the developmental life course approach, is currently understudied in the field of substance abuse, but merits further research.

Life Events and Experiences The term, turning point, has typically been used in association with life events [ 6 ], but not all of these events or experiences lead to changes in life trajectories. Developmental Stages According to life course theory [ 10 ], the timing and sequence of developmental transitions across the life span are of consequence because age and social norms are associated with particular age groups e. Environmental Context—Historical, Cultural, Social Whether a life event, experience, or new awareness serves as a turning point may also depend, in part, on contextual factors, which are often unpredictable.

Individual Factors Individual attributes or background characteristics such a human agency and gender, is yet another area that has been reported as influencing turning points in the life course. Human Agency The amount of personal choice and control over decision making individuals feel they have shapes their perceptions and the outcomes of life events and transitions [ 6 , 34 ], and may contribute to the differential effects that the same life event may have on different people. Gender Gender-based differences have been noted in the life course literature.

Conceptual Framework Based on the brief literature review of turning points using a life course perspective, we propose a conceptual framework, illustrated in Fig. Open in a separate window. Preliminary Guiding Conceptual Framework: Drug Use Trajectories and Turning Points. Methods Although changes in drug use trajectories and their interplay with pathways in other domains e. SUMMARY The concept of turning points in the life course as applied in the social sciences and more recently in the area of developmental criminal careers has increased our understanding of events and processes that may trigger a redirection of a life pathway over time e.

Learning Objectives Become familiar with the literature relevant to turning points from life course and developmental criminology perspectives. Future Research Questions What contextual factors, personal characteristics and individual factors influence turning points in drug use? Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: Implications for treatment, insurance, and outcomes evaluation. J Am Med Assoc. The life course perspective on drug use. Dennis M, Scott C. Managing addiction as a chronic condition. Addict Sci Clin Pract. A conceptual framework and existing research findings.

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J Subst Abuse Treat. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. The effects of gender and the amount of choice. Wheaton B, Gotlib IH. Stress and adversity over the life course. Gotlib IH, Wheaton B, editors. Cambridge University Press; A life-course view of the development of crime.

Crime and the life course: Perspectives on the life course. Trajectories and Transitions, — Cornell University Press; Socioeconomic achievement in the life course of disadvantaged men: Military service as a turning point, circa — Crime in the making: Pathways and turning points though life. Harvard University Press; Turning points in life: Trajectories of change in criminal offending: Good marriages and the desistance process.

Work as a turning point in the life course of criminals: A duration model of age, employment, and recidivism. On the concept of turning point. Pickles A, Rutter M. Problems and methods in longitudinal research: Transitions and turning points in developmental psychopathology: As applied to the age span between childhood and mid-adulthood.

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Work as a turning point for criminal offenders. Employment, peers, and life-course transitions. Shared beginnings, divergent lives: Delinquent boys to age Moneyham L, Connor A. The road in and out of homelessness: Perceptions of recovering substance abusers. Turning points in risk development. Time, human agency, and social change: Developmental theories of crime and delinquency. The life course as developmental theory. Leonard R, Burns A.

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Turning points in the lives of midlife and older women: Turning points in the life course: Why change matters to the study of crime. Hareven T, Masaoka K. Turning points and transitions: Perceptions of the life course. Granfield R, Cloud W. The role of social capital in the resolution of drug-associated problems. Social capital in the creation of human capital. Using a matrix in life transition research.

turning point

Nordic Council for alcohol and Drug Research; Retrieved on January 25, from http: Pathways to self-help among women of sobriety. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. The influence of changes in marital status on developmental trajectories of alcohol use in young adults. Recovery with and without treatment: A comparison of resolutions of alcohol and drug problems. Maturing out of alcohol dependence: The impact of transitional life events. Longitudinal trajectories of heavy drinking in adults in the United States of America. Constructing a non-addict identity. Cloud W, Granfield R. Natural recovery from substance dependency: Lessons for treatment providers.

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Definition of turning point. Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about turning point. Synonyms for turning point Synonyms climacteric , climax , corner , landmark , milepost , milestone , watershed Visit the Thesaurus for More. Examples of turning point in a Sentence Winning that game was the turning point of the team's season. That job was a major turning point in her career.

Getting muddy in the wide-open frontier," 25 Oct. Organizer, babysitter, leader," 13 June And that in turn points to a mode of cultural consumption — the extended binge-watch — that the Wagnerian world has long had largely to itself. First Known Use of turning point , in the meaning defined above. Learn More about turning point. Resources for turning point Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared. Dictionary Entries near turning point turning gouge turning movement turning plow turning point turning rest turning saw turning sickness.